Women empowerment is undoubtedly the hottest topic of the 21st century debates! Gender fights can be traced back to decades and even centuries. Men and women have been trying to prove themselves since the beginning of time. However, the respective topic was only restricted to discussions back then. And practical implementations have started recently! Now, women are visibly growing and supporting society. They are given freedom of speech, expression, and making choices. They can study whatever they want and wherever they want. They are working in the fields of their respective preference and choice. Women have come forward as phenomenal writers, painters, engineers, doctors, teachers, pilots, nurses, and whatnot? The ones who don’t have a job are working as full-time moms and wives.
I have often come across people who only think that an empowered woman is the one who sits in the position of a CEO at a multi-national company or who works days and nights to add financial support to the socio-economic sector. Well, this isn’t the case always. The concept of women empowerment refers to the idea of empowering, strengthening, and fortifying the role and status of women in society.
Empowerment, by dictionary, means authority or power given to someone to do something. Similarly, women empowerment means allowing women to make decisions on their own, without any external pressure. It is the idea of letting women access every opportunity that comes in their way without any social and domestic restriction. For instance, they must be free to make choices for their learning, career, and lifestyle. They should be allowed to equip themselves to make life-determining decisions. If a woman wants to be a doctor, there should be nothing to restrict her. If she wants to be a housekeeper, then that should be her choice and freedom to do that for her living. The word empowerment stems from self-respect. And women empowerment is respecting women in every role, regardless of how low-level it may seem. They must not be treated as an object used as per conveniences.
Empowerment of women redefines gender roles, especially that of women. It allows them to acquire the ability to choose for themselves. Also, it promotes the idea that women are no longer restricted to kitchens and laundries only. They are fully allowed to explore different fields of life. Women empowerment shuts down all the gender biases and inequalities. It gives women the freedom to fight for their basic rights. Moreover, an empowered woman leads to an empowered nation and generation.
Women who don’t get their rights are oppressed and depressed and the children they raise will have the same mindset, which is a means for those in power, usually the patriarchal establishment to maintain a sense of deep control. On the other hand, empowered women have greater self-esteem and self-confidence. Consequently, the children raised by empowered women are confident and broad-minded, often seeking to further their own ambitions and changes in the world, and passing on those same qualities to future generations, thus leading to a more advanced and free society and culture.
Being a woman is one of the toughest jobs in the world. Every day we face numerous challenges. Especially, when we choose to go to work. Men are able to go to work and that is expected. He has the responsibilities of providing for his family, but oftentimes, the immediate concern comes from the woman towards the children. This is not to say that any woman would give up her children for anything, but ultimately, we must compromise on certain areas of our lives, especially when it comes to working in an office, coming home to raise our children, and ensure our home is proper! We don’t complain about this outright and most of us have come to understand, accept, and appreciate it for what it is, but for all we do, the empowerment of women is our basic right that shall not be ignored!
I was inspired to write this article of my own inspirations on my blog after reading the Kindle version of “My Life As A Woman: World Edition”, which is available for free on Kindle Unlimited. The book began as a project initiative which highlights the strength, pliability, and power of women living across the world. It compiles the stories of many brave and courageous women living in every country. Women are the symbol of strength and this book is just another major important step in the women empowerment movement. This acknowledgment must include efforts for making this world safer and easier for women to live in, especially in providing opportunities that will help us women improve our own lives in this world.